The Tecumseh Board of Education announced they will be asking the community for new monies during a Jan. 28 special meeting. A levy will appear on the ballot sometime during the calendar year of 2010.

Superintendent Jim Gay informed an audience that included the Bethel Township trustees and the New Carlisle City Council that the district's recent five year forecasts are showing very little carryover in 2011 as a result of increased expenses and stagnant revenue flow. By 2012, according to Gay, the district will be operating in the red.

If something is not done to keep the district in the black, the Ohio Department of Education will step in.

"We have received notification from the department notifying us of the impending deficit," Gay explained. "ODE will continue to monitor our financial status and the oversight will become more restrictive if we are unable to take care of the deficit."

Board President Dan Studebaker pointed out that it has been 15 years since the district asked for new operation funds. In 1995, the community supported the district by providing the new operating revenue necessary to stay out of the red. Now, according to Studebaker, the district is "in the same place, if not worst."

Since 2003, the district has cut $4.3 million from the budget. According to Gay, additional cuts can be expected if a levy is not passed.

"The cuts were painful, but were necessary to maintain a positive end-of-the year balance," said Gay. "We’ll have to make another $2 million in cuts at the end of the 2010-2011 school year if we are unable to generate the revenue needed to maintain the programs we have in place for our students."

"The state is stuck in the economic funk," added Studebaker. "We're pretty much on our own."

The board reminded audience members of the importance of the Tecumseh Local Schools to the overall health of the community. The schools have received an "Excellent" from the Ohio Department of Education for two years in a row. According to Gay, additional belt-tightening may affect the quality of local education.

"Tecumseh Local Schools is a vital part of our community.  Our schools provide our students with a very good education, enabling them to compete with students from other districts regionally and nationally," said Gay. "The district also provides the community with a well-educated workforce. Our students have been accomplishing great things in an out of the classroom. The revenue generated form this levy will help us avoid additional cuts and stop the erosion of programs for our students. Passage of the upcoming levy will help us maintain programs that help make TLS an excellent district."

"My broken record is a strong local school equals a strong local community," added Studebaker.